Ballot contests await your vote

The great American experience of democracy will be again be practiced this Tuesday, November 5th, by those who choose to vote. County, municipal and school board elections are on the ballot this time. While ballot challenges exist in only a few precincts, everywhere does the possibility exist for write-in opposition as well as filling a few posts where there are no ballot candidates.

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By Peter BeckerManaging Editor

News Eagle - Hawley, PA

By Peter BeckerManaging Editor

Posted Nov. 1, 2013 at 5:37 PM

By Peter BeckerManaging Editor
Posted Nov. 1, 2013 at 5:37 PM

WAYNE & PIKE

The great American experience of democracy will be again be practiced this Tuesday, November 5th, by those who choose to vote. County, municipal and school board elections are on the ballot this time. While ballot challenges exist in only a few precincts, everywhere does the possibility exist for write-in opposition as well as filling a few posts where there are no ballot candidates.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Election results for contested races will be posted online at www.neagle.com and listed in the Saturday, Nov. 9 edition of The News Eagle.

Most of the empty ballot slots, which are listed here, are for auditor, judge of election and inspector of election. Any empty slot can be filled with a single write-in vote. The Board of Elections in their county will then contact the person to verify that he or she wishes to serve. If there is more than one write-in candidate, then then one with the most votes wins.

NOTE: For the most part, only ballot contests are noted here, for Wayne County and Pike County. There are many more uncontested candidates. For the entire Wayne County ballot, visit online at co.wayne.pa.us; pick Bureau of Elections under Departments. For the Pike County ballot, visit online at pikepa.org; click Sample Ballots.

In this article, Republican is often abbreviated as "R" and Democrat as "D." In the November election, anyone registered to vote may vote for any candidate, regardless of party.

••• Hawley Council race

One of the most invigorating elections is in Hawley Borough, where eight candidates- four Republicans who are seeking new terms, and four Democrats, none of whom have been on Council before, are vying for votes.

Mary C. Sanders (R), Donald Kyzer (R) and Jill Carletti (D) are each seeking a two-year term; voters are asked to pick two out of the three candidates.

The News Eagle sent a questionnaire to each of the Hawley Council candidates. Their responses are published in the weekend edition of The News Eagle, page 11.

In addition, David Kevin Hawk is running unopposed for a second term as mayor and is cross-filed as a Republican/Democrat. Likewise, Barbara Middaugh is running unchallenged for a new term as tax collector and is cross-filed.

No one is running for Judge of Elections or Inspector of Elections. Valid write-in votes can fill these posts if anyone is interested to serve their community in this way, at the two elections each year.

••• State, county-wide

Page 2 of 4 - State-wide, voters have a selection to make regarding Judge of the Superior Court; pick either Vic Stabile, Republican, or Jack McVay Jr., (D).

••• More choices

WAYNE COUNTY

Across Wayne County, voters are asked to select a Jury Commissioner, either Judith M. Romich, (R) or Patricia Biondo, (D).

Western Wayne School District has a school board ballot contest, affecting Region #1 (Canaan, Clinton-1 and Waymart). Choose two from three candidates: Andrew J. Gaudenzi (R), Donald H. McDonough (R/D) and James Salak (D).

Forest City Regional School District has a school board ballot contest, affecting Clinton Township-2. Pick one from two candidates: Linda Zefran (R) and Mary Costanzo (D).

Ballot contests - other than school board- are noted here by municipality/precinct, as well as empty ballot slots.

*Berlin Township- There is a contest for supervisor. Pick either Steven Propst, (R). or Charles Gries Jr., (D). The tax collector race is between Linda Kelly, (R). or Brandy R. Freiermuth, (D).

No one is running for auditor, either 6-year or 2-year terms, and the judge of election slot in Berlin-2 is empty.

* Bethany Borough- There are no ballot contests. The inspector of election slot is empty.

*Buckingham Township- There is a contest for inspector of election, between Vicky S. Shakelton (R) and Adeline Heesh (D).

* Canaan Township- There are no ballot contests.

* Cherry Ridge Township- The ballot slots for auditor 4-year term and judge of election are empty.

* Damascus Township- There is a contest for inspector of election in Damascus-2, between Theresa L. Hensderson (R) and Angela M. Davis (D). The ballot slots for auditor and judge of election (Damascus-2) are empty.

*Dreher Township- The only contest is for inspector of election, between Judy Spewak, (R). and Donna B. Lee, (D). There is an empty slot for auditor 6-year term.

* Dyberry Township- There are no ballot contests.

* Hawley Borough- described above.

* Honesdale Borough- There is a contest for inspector of election in Honesdale-2 between Marilyn McElroy (R) and Jean Bidwell (D), and in Honesdale-3 between Kelly Kornbau (R) and Jean Meagher (D). The judge of election slot for Honesdale-1 is empty.

* Lake Township- There are two contests for supervisor. For the 6-year term, pick either Scottie Swingle, (R). or Jerry Tregaskis, (D). For the 4-year term, choose either Timothy Jaggars, (R). or Joseph Gwozdziewycz, (D). There are two people seeking the inspector of election post, Anita Elaine Cook, (R). and Joan M. Belles, (D).

Page 3 of 4 - * Manchester Township- There are no ballot contests. There is an empty slot for auditor.

* Mount Pleasant Township- Choose between Albert H. Wildenstein (R) and Jim Knapp (D) for supervisor. There is an empty slot for auditor.

* Oregon Township- There is a contest for inspector of election between Debra K. Skinner (R) and Betty M. Hartman (D).

* Palmyra Township- There are no contested races. No one is running for the judge of election spot.

* Paupack Township- There is a contest for inspector of election. Pick either Kathleen Carlson (R) or Maryann Vaccaro (D).

* Preston Township- There is a contest for inspector of election between Alice M. Sampson (R) and Evelyn Hoops (D). The ballot slot for auditor is empty.

* Prompton Borough- There is a contest for inspector of election between Janet Odell (R) and Cheryl Guinther (D).

* Salem Township- There is one contest, for inspector of election. Choose either Deborah Van Kleef, (R) or Patrick Chapman, (D).

* Scott Township- There is a contest for inspector of election between Natasha Tuttle (R) and Harold Stafford (D).

* South Canaan Township- There are no contested races.

* Starrucca Borough- There are empty ballot slots for Council 2-year term; judge of election and inspector of election.

* Sterling Township- There are no contested races. No one is seeking the judge of election spot.

* Texas Township- The ballot notes a contest for supervisor between Richard Southerton (D) and Allan Wickle (R) for 6-year term as well as Richard Southerton (D) and Paul Sprague (R) for 2-year term. Southerton, however, announced his resignation as supervisor on October 21 due to being hired as Honesdale Police Commissioner. If he were to win either ballot position, Southerton would need to decide whether to decline or accept the elected office, said Cindy Furman, director, Wayne County Board of Elections.

There is a contest in Texas-1 between Arlene Seig (R) and Debbie Swendsen (D) for inspector of election.

* Waymart Borough- There is a contest for inspector of election between Doris L. Brooks (R) and Karen L. McElroy (D). No one is running for auditor 6-year, 4-year and 2-year terms.

PIKE COUNTY

County-wide, Philip Bueki is running uncontested for another term as Pike County Sheriff.

In Magisterial District 60-3-02, Shannon Muir is running uncontested for District Judge (Greene, Palmyra and Blooming Grove Townships).

There is a contest for District Judge in In Magisterial District 60-3-04, where the choice is between Paul Menditto (R/D) and Lara Anne Dodsworth (Independent Common Sense party). This district court covers Delaware, Lehman and Porter Township.

Delaware Valley School District has a school board race for 2-year term between Brian Carso (R/D) and John "Jack" O'Leary (Independent).

Page 4 of 4 - East Stroudsburg School District has a school board race, 4-year term. Pick four from the following six candidates: Gary Summers (R/D), Ryan Stevens (R/D), Joyce A. Billeck (R), Robert A. McLaughlin Jr. (R), Bob Cooke (D) and Bob Gress (D).

Ballot contests (OTHER than for district judge or school board) and empty ballot slots are listed by municipality or precinct:

*Blooming Grove Township- There are no ballot contests.

*Delaware Township- There is a contest for tax collector, between Dennis Lee (R) and Mary Lou Corbett (D).

*Dingman Township- There is a contest for tax collector, between James Leiser (R) and Jesse Tashlik (D).

* Lackawaxen Township- Michael "Mike" Mancino (R/D) is running uncontested on the ballot for supervisor. He prevailed in the spring Primary over incumbent Brian Stuart, who has since waged a write-in campaign. The ballot slot for auditor, 6-year term, is empty.

* Lehman Township- There is a contest for auditor, 6-year term: George Kelly (R) or Jacquelyn B. Wells (D).